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Marine Technology Student: Submersible Technician

Discover the undersea world of Penelope Ross, who’s studying marine technology in this video adapted from Pathways to Technology. Penelope is learning to build undersea robots called ROVs: remotely operated vehicles. These ROVs can go places in the ocean where it’s hard for humans to travel, and can collect data on the ocean and its underwater life. Penelope explains what brought her to community college, and why she's looking forward to a career in marine technology.

How do you use technology in the ocean? One way is to create robots that can gather data from places where it’s hard for humans to go, like the ocean floor. These submersible machines are called ROVs: remotely operated vehicles. Community college student Penelope Ross is studying marine technology and learning how to build ROVs.

Penelope finds this hands-on learning very appealing. “Working with tools, with my hands, with electrical and mechanical devices—it was obvious that’s where I belonged,” she says. “I built an ROV with my partner that has three motors: one for vertical movement, one to go forward, and one to go backward.” This prototype could one day be developed into a working model that would be operated from shore.

Penelope wants to work with underwater vehicles as a marine technician. Marine technicians who specialize in underwater vehicles are also known as submersible technicians. A submersible technician inspects, maintains, and rebuilds equipment for underwater ROVs. This includes diagnosing and repairing safety, hydraulic and pneumatic gear, as well as testing the vehicles for operation and emergency situations. All marine technicians work with marine scientists and engineers and play a large part in the latest discoveries in marine technology.

Penelope sees a new future for herself in marine technology. “[My teacher] told me that I could do algebra. I could do calculus. I could make a successful career change. And because he believed it, I did."